Lightning, Alleycats set records, earn World Series hardware
The Elgin-based Northern Illinois Lightning and the Illinois Alleycats concluded the women's fastpitch softball season over the weekend -- each bringing home hardware from the USSSA 18 & over World Series at the Sportscore in Rockford.
Both teams established program records with their performances in Rockford.
The Lightning concluded its ninth season on the women's circuit with its second straight third-place finish in the World Series.
The Lightning (27-11-1) set a program record for winning percentage.
The Alleycats (38-12) wrapped up their seventh campaign with a fifth-place finish in the 17-team Rockford tournament and set a program record for wins in a season.
The Lightning was presented with the tournament's team sportsmanship award and placed three players -- Elissa Wisniewski, Christine McGivney and Lissa Fehlman -- on the all-tournament team.
The Alleycats placed Marissa Osness on the all-tournament team.
Lightning recap: The Lightning opened play in Rockford by winning its two pool games, 9-0 over the Indy Tradition and 9-5 over the Northern Illinois Thunder. Abby Young had 2 hits and 3 RBI to lead the win over the Tradition as Elissa Wisniewski tossed a 1-hitter. Against the Thunder, Fehlman had 3 hits, including a triple and 3 RBI. Young added 2 hits and 2 RBI, and Jaci Corn had a double and 2 RBI.
The Lightning opened bracket play with a 1-0 win over the California High 5, using a 2-hitter from Wisniewski to lead the way. Young scored the only run in the second inning on a double by Chaleen Rumpf.
In a 3-2 win over the Aurora Raiders, McGivney picked up the win with 4 innings of solid relief. Ashley Smith drove in 2 runs, and Corn had the other RBI.
To advance to the winner's bracket championship, the Lightning held off the Wisconsin Blues 4-2, again using a stellar relief stint from McGivney -- who did not allow an earned run in the tournament.
Kelli Whipple's 2 RBI led the way for the Lightning. Young and Kim Corcoran each drove in runs.
In Sunday's opener, the Lightning fell to the Ohio Magic 3-2. The Magic had eliminated the Lightning from the 2006 World Series in Toledo with an 8-0 win.
Ohio led Sunday's game 2-0 when Whipple's shot up the middle in the top of the seventh inning scored Smith and Rumpf to tie the game.
But the Magic scored on a double and a hard shot to the right side in the bottom of the inning to win. The Magic went on to win its second straight World Series championship.
The Lightning was eliminated with a 5-1 loss to the Wisconsin Blues. Corn doubled and scored the Lightning's only run.
"We had another great World Series and another outstanding season," said Lightning manager John Radtke. "Each one of these girls improved their games over the summer and can now go back to college better players. I also need to single out Jaci Corn and Elissa Wisniewski, two young ladies who proved this summer that if you stay in shape and keep a passion for the game, you can play it at a high level even after your college career is done."
Corn finished the season hitting .343 with 3 home runs, 18 RBI and a team-high 5 triples. Wisniewski was 7-4 in the circle with 2 saves and a 1.44 ERA. She has a program-record 35 wins in her four seasons with the team.
"I'm also extremely proud of the girls on the team and all of our fans for the tournament committee selecting us to receive the sportsmanship award," Radtke said. "That means as much to us as an organization as anything. It tells me that we're doing things the right way and it's being noticed. With the large majority of our team coming back next summer, we expect to contend for a national championship again."
Alleycats recap: The Alleycats also finished the tournament 5-2, winning their two pool games 3-1 over the California High 5 and 5-4 over the Illinois Rage. Jenna Sybowicz pitched a 2-hitter against the High 5 team, while Jackie Gill tossed a 5-hitter against the Rage. Monica Urban had 3 hits and Liz Yucuis a pair of hits in the win over the Rage.
In bracket play, the Alleycats opened with a 6-0 win over the Northern Illinois Thunder as Allison Benthusen tossed a 2-hitter. Osness, Monica Escareno and Katie Williams each had 2 hits.
The Alleycats suffered a 4-2 loss in eight innings to the Indiana Impact. Tami Miller allowed 5 hits in taking the loss. Osness and Christina Rosin each had 2 hits.
Bouncing back through the loser's bracket, the Alleycats knocked off the California High 5 team 4-1 and beat the Blackhawk Athletic Club of Rockford 2-1 to ensure at least a fifth-place finish.
Szybowicz scattered 6 hits in the win over High 5. Kylee McMahon contributed a double. In the win over Blackhawk AC, Gill tossed a 4-hitter, and the Alleycats got 2 hits from Rosin.
In an elimination game Sunday morning, the Alleycats battled back from a 7-1 deficit but fell 7-5 to the Wisconsin Blues.
Benthusen suffered the loss. Urban led the offense with 2 hits.
"Our team did well to place fifth," said Alleycats manager Tom Potter. "I felt we could have gone further, but as all coaches know, sometimes that one inning can kill you.
"The dedication of this squad this season was so thick it made my job as a manager easy. Some managers go through withdrawals at the end of the season, and with the fun we had this year I'm at the top of that list."
The Alleycats won two tournaments and took second in three others this season.
Elgin Heat 18U 9th at NSA World Series: The Elgin Heat 18U fastpitch softball team went 5-2 at the NSA World Series in Birmingham, Ala., taking ninth place in the 80- team field.
Tournament action began for the Heat with a 5-2 win over the Ohio Hilliard Wild Cats in pool play, where the Heat went 2-0.
Kiley Holtz (2 hits, double, RBI), Bridget Metzger (2 hits, double, RBI, 2 runs), Carrie Sensor (2 hits, run), Liz Gajewski (2 hits) and Nicole Dimiceli (triple, RBI) led the offense. Brittany Carnell (single, RBI) went the distance inside the circle, allowing 1 earned run on 6 hits.
The Heat concluded pool play with a 7-2 win over the New York Lady Bandits.
Starting pitcher Rebecca French and relief pitcher Lindsay Decker combined inside the circle to shut down New York. The pair allowed 1 earned run and 5 total hits.
Holtz led the offense with a single, double, triple, a run scored and 4 RBI. Dimiceli (triple, RBI) and Anna McCaffrey (2 hits, run) contributed.
In bracket play, the Heat earned an 8-0 shutout win over the Whitby Eagles from Ontario, Canada, behind standout pitching from Carnell (4 innings) and Decker (1 inning).
The duo allowed 1 hit. Ahead 1-0 in the second inning with bases loaded, Metzger (3-for-3, 2 runs, 4 RBI) hit a grand slam to give the Heat a 5-0 lead.
Additional offensive help came off the bats of Sensor (3 hits, 2 RBI, 1 run) and Holtz (double, RBI).
Next, the Heat played Gadsden Raiders from Florida and picked up a 5-2 win and a fourth straight victory.
McCaffrey (triple, 2 runs), Holtz (2 hits, 2 RBI), Sensor (2 hits), Maggie Yagen (RBI), Erin Riley (RBI) and Gajewski (2b) each played a key part.
Decker was in the circle for the win, allowing 2 runs in 4 innings with 3 strikeouts.
Carnell came on in relief for the save, pitching a scoreless final inning with a strikeout.
The Heat added a fifth straight win, an 8-5 decision over the Indiana Diamonds in extra innings.
Holtz went 4-for-4 with 3 doubles, a single, 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. Sensor (3 hits, RBI), Riley (triple, 2 hits, 2 RBI, run) and Yagen (hit, RBI) added some timely hitting.
The Chattanooga Filleys stopped the Heat 6-3.
Metzger (home run, 2 RBI, run) and Yagen (double, single, RBI) had solid plate appearances.
The loss dropped the Heat into the loser's bracket, where it lost 5-4 to the Collinsville Extreme.
With the heat trailing 5-0 in the seventh inning, leadoff hitter Riley hit a home run.
With two outs and two runners on base, Metzger blasted a 3-run homer. Holtz (3-for-3) singled, but was left stranded.
"We played a great tournament," said manager Steve Cooper. "It was hot and humid throughout the four days, but the ladies played hard and most importantly, they never gave up.
"We were in every game and we faced some tough teams, but in our 2 losses we just couldn't get the key hits we needed."
NSA World Series hitting leaders for the Heat included Holtz (.696, 10 RBI), Metzger (.476, 3 home runs) and Sensor (.423). The team batting average for the tournament was .366.
"The coaching staff is very proud of the ladies," Cooper said. "Our defense was amazing, hitting was unbelievable and our pitching was superb."
The Heat finished the season 34-14-3.
Northern Illinois Lighting fastpitch softball tryouts: The Northern Illinois Lightning fastpitch softball teams will hold tryouts for the 2008 summer season the first two weekends of August at Judson College in Elgin.
Tryouts for the 16U Lightning will be held Aug. 4 and 11 from 10 a.m.-noon, and on Aug. 5 and 12 from noon-2 p.m.
Tryouts for the 18U Lightning will be Aug. 4 and 11 from noon-2 p.m. and on Aug. 5 and 12 from 2-4 p.m.
Tryouts for the Lightning's 18 & over team is Aug. 4 and 11 from 2-4 p.m., and on Aug. 5 and 12 from 4-6 p.m.
For further information on the Lightning, contact John Radtke at (847) 812-1522 or Radtke.john@sbcglobal.net; or Howie Bierman at (847) 697-8641 or hbierman@sbcglobal.net. Information on the Lightning is also available on the Internet at www.eteamz.com/nilightning.
Fox Valley Renegades fastpitch softball tryouts: The Fox Valley Renegades girls fastpitch softball program will be holding tryouts for the 2008 summer season on Saturdays, Aug. 11 and 18, and Sundays, Aug. 12 and 19 for its 14U, 16U and 18U teams.
Tryouts will be held at Jockey Field on Third Street in East Dundee. All 14U players will attend from 9:30-11:30 a.m., while 16U players will attend from noon-2 p.m. For 18U players, tryouts will run from 2-4 p.m.
Key positions are open. For more information, contact Glenn Smith at (630) 936-9070.
Elgin Heat Girls Fastpitch Tryouts: The Elgin Heat girls fastpitch softball program will be holding tryouts for players ages 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U for the 2008 season on Saturday, Aug. 4, Sunday, Aug. 5, Saturday, Aug. 11, and Sunday, Aug. 12. Tryouts will be held on Fields 1 and 5 at the Elgin Sports Complex on both Saturdays (Field No. 7 on August 11) and on the Larkin High School JV Field on Sundays. Times will vary.
For players interested in playing for the 12U team, tryouts will run from 9-10:30 a.m. and from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for 14U. The 16U players will attend from 12:30-2:20 p.m. and 18U from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Please arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled tryout time.
For further information or questions, contact Craig Holthus at cholthus@aol.com. For information on the 23U girls fastpitch team, please contact Steve Cooper at HeatCoachCoop@aol.com. You may also visit the website at http://eteamz.active.com/elginheat.